Method, apparatus, and system for multiplexing protocol data units

• US 8,774,098 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2012
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Walton, Jay Rodney, Nanda, Sanjiv, Ketchum, John Wendell
• Primary Examiner(s): Mui, Gary
• Application Number:
  US13/555,174
• Publication Number:
  US 20120287856A1
• Time in Patent Office: 716 Days
• Field of Search: 370/389, 370/392, 370/394, 370/395, 370/476
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/065 using assembly or disassembly of packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1273 of downlink data flows

Abstract

Embodiments addressing MAC processing for efficient use of high throughput systems are disclosed. In one aspect, a protocol stack is disclosed comprising one or more of the following: an adaptation layer, a data link control layer, a physical layer, and a layer manager. In another aspect, physical layer feedback is used for adaptation layer processing. In one embodiment, physical layer feedback is used for segmentation. In another embodiment, physical layer feedback is used for multicast mapping onto one or more unicast channels. In another aspect, a data unit for transmission from a first station to a second station comprises zero or more complete sub-data units, zero or one partial sub-data units from a prior transmission, and zero or one partial sub-data units to fill the data unit. In one embodiment, a pointer may be used to indicate the location of any complete sub-data units.

Claims

1. A method for incorporating physical layer feedback into an adaptation layer function, comprising:

receiving flow packets for transmission to one or more remote devices;

performing an adaptation layer function in response to physical layer feedback for the remote devices, wherein the adaptation layer function comprises a segmentation and reassembly function that adapts each higher layer packet to a protocol data unit size appropriate for a logical link mode, wherein the segmentation and reassembly function segments a flow packet based on transmission rate information; and

monitoring subsequent physical layer feedback for the remote devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed by an access point.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed by a user terminal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the segmentation and reassembly function in the adaptation layer comprises:

receiving the flow packet for transmission to a medium access control (MAC) identifier corresponding to one of the remote devices; and

retrieving the transmission rate information for the medium access control (MAC) identifier.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the segmenting produces segments that are used to produce adaptation layer protocol data units (PDUs).

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the segmenting comprises:

leaving adaptation layer protocol data units (PDUs) segmentation size unchanged when a rate change is not detected;

increasing adaptation layer protocol data units (PDUs) segmentation size when an increased rate change is detected; and

decreasing adaptation layer protocol data units (PDUs) segmentation size when a decreased rate change is detected.

7. A wireless device for incorporating physical layer feedback into an adaptation layer function, comprising:

means for receiving flow packets for transmission to one or more remote devices;

means for performing an adaptation layer function in response to physical layer feedback for the remote devices, wherein the adaptation layer function comprises a segmentation and reassembly function that adapts each higher layer packet to a protocol data unit size appropriate for a logical link mode, wherein the segmentation and reassembly function segments a flow packet based on transmission rate information; and

means for monitoring subsequent physical layer feedback for the remote devices.

8. The wireless device of claim 7, wherein the wireless device is an access point.

9. The wireless device of claim 7, wherein the wireless device is a user terminal.

10. The wireless device of claim 7, wherein performing the segmentation and reassembly function in the adaptation layer comprises:

means for receiving the flow packet for transmission to a medium access control (MAC) identifier corresponding to one of the remote devices; and

means for retrieving the transmission rate information for the medium access control (MAC) identifier.

11. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the means for segmenting produces segments that are used to produce adaptation layer protocol data units (PDUs).

12. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein the means for segmenting comprises:

means for leaving adaptation layer protocol data units (PDUs) segmentation size unchanged when a rate change is not detected;

means for increasing adaptation layer protocol data units (PDUs) segmentation size when an increased rate change is detected; and

means for decreasing adaptation layer protocol data units (PDUs) segmentation size when a decreased rate change is detected.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for incorporating physical layer feedback into an adaptation layer function, comprising:

code for causing a wireless device to receive flow packets for transmission to one or more remote devices;

code for causing the wireless device to perform an adaptation layer function in response to physical layer feedback for the remote devices, wherein the adaptation layer function comprises a segmentation and reassembly function that adapts each higher layer packet to a protocol data unit size appropriate for a logical link mode, wherein the segmentation and reassembly function segments a flow packet based on transmission rate information; and

code for causing the wireless device to monitor subsequent physical layer feedback for the remote devices.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the wireless device is an access point.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the wireless device is a user terminal.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the code for causing the wireless device to perform the adaptation layer function comprises code for causing the wireless device to perform the segmentation and reassembly function in the adaptation layer, comprising:

code for causing the wireless device to receive the flow packet for transmission to a medium access control (MAC) identifier corresponding to one of the remote devices; and

code for causing the wireless device to retrieve the transmission rate information for the medium access control (MAC) identifier.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the code for causing the wireless device to segment produces segments that are used to produce adaptation layer protocol data units (PDUs).

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the code for causing the wireless device to segment comprises:

code for causing the wireless device to leave adaptation layer protocol data units (PDUs) segmentation size unchanged when a rate change is not detected;

code for causing the wireless device to increase adaptation layer protocol data units (PDUs) segmentation size when an increased rate change is detected; and

code for causing the wireless device to decrease adaptation layer protocol data units (PDUs) segmentation size when a decreased rate change is detected.

19. A wireless device for incorporating physical layer feedback into an adaptation layer function, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor;

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to;

receive flow packets for transmission to one or more remote devices;

perform an adaptation layer function in response to physical layer feedback for the remote devices, wherein the adaptation layer function comprises a segmentation and reassembly function that adapts each higher layer packet to a protocol data unit size appropriate for a logical link mode, wherein the segmentation and reassembly function segments a flow packet based on transmission rate information; and

monitor subsequent physical layer feedback for the remote devices.

20. The wireless device of claim 19, wherein the wireless device is an access point.

21. The wireless device of claim 19, wherein the wireless device is a user terminal.

22. The wireless device of claim 19, wherein the instructions executable to perform the adaptation layer function comprise instructions executable to perform the segmentation and reassembly function in the adaptation layer, comprising instructions executable to:

receive the flow packet for transmission to a medium access control (MAC) identifier corresponding to one of the remote devices; and

retrieve the transmission rate information for the medium access control (MAC) identifier.

23. The wireless device of claim 22, wherein the instructions executable to segment produce segments that are used to produce adaptation layer protocol data units (PDUs).

24. The wireless device of claim 23, wherein the instructions executable to segment comprise instructions executable to:

leave adaptation layer protocol data units (PDUs) segmentation size unchanged when a rate change is not detected;

increase adaptation layer protocol data units (PDUs) segmentation size when an increased rate change is detected; and

decrease adaptation layer protocol data units (PDUs) segmentation size when a decreased rate change is detected.